In this episode of Catalysts, I’m joined by Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist at Beyond the Sky and host of You in 2042: The Future of Work. With a background in marketing and leadership roles at companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, Danielle brings a uniquely human—and deeply practical—lens to some of the biggest shifts happening in the world of learning and work.

We dive into how AI is reshaping workforce expectations, why empathy and emotional regulation are the real future-proof skills, and what it actually takes to design learning that drives behavior change.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• AI won’t replace us—but it will reshape what “valuable” work looks like.
• Skills like empathy, adaptability, and critical thinking are no longer optional.
• Content-based training is flooding the market, but it’s practice that drives change.
• AI can accelerate soft skill development—when paired with intentional design.
• Effective learning starts with the right business conversations, not content.
• The cost vs. effectiveness debate in L&D is really a question of priority.

If you’ve ever wrestled with how to balance emerging technology with human connection—or how to make soft skills training actually stick—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to build learning solutions that are both efficient and effective.

🔗 Connect with Danielle:
LinkedIn | Beyond the Sky

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• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
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• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!

What if the real key to innovation isn’t speed, strategy, or structure—but the ability to sit with discomfort long enough to transform it?

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Janet Harvey, CEO of inviteCHANGE, former global president of the International Coaching Federation, and one of the most influential voices in coaching and leadership development over the past three decades.

With more than 12,000 hours of coaching experience across six continents, Janet shares how she’s seen the coaching field evolve—and what leaders must now embrace if they want to create real, sustainable change.

We explore:

• Why coaching is no longer reserved for the top of the house—and how it can strengthen people managers at every level
• How to move from a scarcity mindset to a wholeness mindset in leadership
• Why building connection isn’t optional—it’s our biological default
• How AI and tech can become partners, not threats, in building more human workplaces
• What it means to “fall in love with the problem” in order to unlock generative thinking and innovation
  Janet’s wisdom is powerful, grounded, and deeply human—and her call to action is clear: Stop avoiding tension. Start transforming through it.

📌 Links Mentioned

• Janet’s work: inviteCHANGE
• Janet's new platform: go.invitechange.com
• YouTube: Invite Change Channel

Connect & Learn More

• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
• Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com
• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!

In this episode of Catalysts, I sit down with Bianca Baumann, award-winning strategist, international speaker, and author of Think Like a Marketer, Train Like an L&D Pro. With over 15 years in the field, Bianca brings a rare blend of creativity, empathy, and business alignment to the way organizations approach learning.

We talk about the mindset shifts that L&D teams need to make—starting with listening more and building for behavior change, not just content delivery.

Inside the conversation:

• Why listening is the most underrated skill in L&D
• How to balance long-term workforce strategy with short-term execution
• The marketing principles every L&D leader should steal—today
• Why compelling writing is a non-negotiable for learning that sticks
• How course titles, taglines, and narrative structure can dramatically increase engagement
• The role of learner personas in driving motivation and performance
• What executives still don’t understand about learning—and how to educate them
• Why visibility and working out loud matter more than ever in L&D leadership

Bianca also shares her own evolution as a leader, what she’s learned from mentoring teams, and the small actions that can make a big impact—especially for L&D professionals doing it all on their own.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to Catalysts—where we spotlight the leaders shaping the future of learning and growth.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn »

Connect & Learn More

• Connect on with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-ratliff
• Position Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Industry: executivebrandbuilder.com
• Interested in joining the show as a guest? Click here!